Laundry apparatus



Dec. 23, 1958 A w 2,865,189

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1llllllllllllllllllllll L- i, I, l" I8 Ifnufmll IN V EN TOR. Q43 em"11/0/45 ATTORNEYS A. F. WIDIGEN LAUNDRY APPARATUS Dec. 23, 1958 FiledAug. 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IFHEIUE INVENTOR. 91 as F Mama/V BY yww0% w f4??? ATTORNEYS.

United States 2,865,189 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Albert F. Widigen, Davenport,Iowa, assignor to American Machine and Metals, Inc.', New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,5839 Claims. (Cl. 63 210) open top of the casing for disposition in frontof the latter with unloading doors of the drum facing downwardly sothat, upon opening of such doors, the contents of the drum can drop orbe dumped into underlying containers thereby to avoid the necessity ofindividually lifting the work or contents from the drum. In such washingmachines, an arrangement is usually provided for lifting the hingedcover of the casing as the drum is moved to its work dumping positionand for permitting the return of the hinged cover to its closed positionafter the drum has again been disposed within the casing. However, 'inthe existing arangements, the hinged cover is not tightly held in itsclosed position to seal the top of, the casing during the washingoperation and considerable leakage of washing fiuid occurs under theedges of the hinged cover. I

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for theautomatic opening of the hinged cover as the drumfof a dump unloadingwashing machine is moved to its dumping or unloading position and forautomatically closing the hinged cover and holding the latter in sealedre'lationto-the top of the casing when the drum is returned to thelatter for a washing operation.

Another. object is to provide, mechanically simple meansfortightlyholding the hinged cover in its closed position during thewashing operation and which is operated jointly with the usualarrangement for opening the hinged cover so that the addition of themeans for tightly holding the cover in its closed position does notmaterially add to the cost or complexity of the dump unloading washingmachine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gasket orsealing means between the halves of the shell.

More specifically, the present invention is applicable to dump unloadingwashing machines of the described character wherein the work agitatingdrum isjournalled, at its opposite ends, in elevating arms which arepivotally mounted adjacent thefront of the casing for swinging movementbetween rearwardly directed and upstanding positions thereby to disposethe work agitating drum in the casing and above and in front of thecasing, respectively, the swinging movement of the elevating arms iseffected by the controlled rotation of a crank-wheel and a connectingrod or elevating link pivotally coupled, at one end, to a related one ofthe elevatingarms and, atits other end, to an eccentric pin on thecrank-wheel, ahd lifting of the hinged cover to open the top of theatent O 2,865,189 l atented Pee. 23, 1958 casing is effected by a coverlift link pivotally connected, at its upper end, to the cover and havinga cam follower pin or roller, at its lower end, bearing downwardly onthe radially outward facing cam surface of a radial cam rotatable withthe crank-wheel so that the cover is raised, when the follower pin orroller engages a radially large portion of the cam, and isgravitationallylowered, when the foliower pin or roller engages aradially small portion of the cam. In accordance with an aspect of thisinvention, the hinged cover is tightly held in its closed positionduring a washing operation merely by providing' a radially inward facingcam surface also rotatable with the crank-wheel and engageable with thefollower pin or roller from above at least during the engagement of thepin or roller by the radially. small portion of the radial earncorresponding to the closed position of the cover, thereby to urge thecover lift link downwardly and tightly hold the cover in its closedposition.

The above, and .other objects, features'and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a dump unloading Washing, machine of thekind adapted to have the present invention embodied therein, and showingthe machine in its unloading condition;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a dump unloading washing machineembodying the present invention,'arid shown in condition for theperformace of a washing operation, but with a protective end housing orshield removed to expose working parts of the machine;

Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 2, but with the machine being shown inits unloading condition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the sealing means along the rear of themachine when the top half of the shell is raised;

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 with the shell closed; Fig. 8 is a view ofthe seal along the front of the machine;

Fig.9 is an enlarged view of one of the left-hand trunnions;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the 7 line 10-10 ofFig, 2; and

Fig. 11 is an enlargedsectional view of the side sealing stripof Fig. 10when the cover is in open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Fig. 1 thereof, adump unloadingwashing machine of the'typ'e to which the presentinvention relates is there generally identified by the reference numeral10. The machine 10 includes a casing 11 which is open at the top toreceive a work agitating cylinder or drum 12. The drum 12 has aperforated or foraminous cylindrical wall 13 which is provided with oneor more doors 14 that can be opened to permit the loading and unloadingof the clothes or other work.

In dump unloading washing machines, the work agitating drum 12 isrotated within the casing 11 during the washing operation and isdisplaced upwardly and forwardly out of the open top of the casing formovement. to the unloading position of Fig. 1 so that, when the drum isrotationally positioned with the doors 14- facing downwardly, as shown,and the doors are opened,'the washed clothes will be dumped from thedrum 12 into underlying hampers or other containers, thereby toavoid thenecessity of physically lifting the washed clothes or work from thedrum. When the drum is to be reloaded, the drum is returned to thecasing 11 and the opened doors 14 then appear at the upper frontquadrant of the drum to conveniently receive the clothes or other workto be washed.

In order to permit the bodily movement or displacement of the drum 12between its operative or washing position within the casing 11 and itselevated and forwardly projected dump unloading position, trunnions orstub shafts 15 extending from the opposite ends of the drum arerotatably journalled in suitable bearings carried by elevating arms 16which, at their ends remote from the trunnions 15, are pivotally mountedon support blocks 17 disposed adjacent the top edge of the front wall 18of casing 11. The elevating arms 16 are swingable through approximately90 degrees between rearwardly directed positions (Fig. 2), correspondingto the disposition of the drum 12 for the washing operation, andupstanding positions (Figs. 1 and 3) corresponding to the dump unloadingposition of the drum 12.

In order to rotate the work agitating drum 12 during a washingoperation, a spur gear 19 is fixed to the trunnion or stub shaft 15 atone end of the drum, said gear continuously meshing with a pinion 20which is carried by a shaft 21 journalled in one of the blocks 17coaxially with the pivoting axis of the adjacent elevating arm 16. Infact, the shaft 21 may extend rotatably through the adjacent elevatingarm to provide the pivotal mounting for the latter. Since the pinion 20is coaxial with the pivoting axes of the elevating arms 16, it isapparent that the latter can swing between their rearwardly directed andupstanding positions without affecting the meshing engagement of thegear 19 with the pinion 20. A pulley 22 is fixed to the shaft 21 and anendless belt 23 runs around the pulley 22 and around a pulley 24 on theshaft of a drive motor 25 (Figs. 2 and 3 Conventional automatic ormanual controls (not shown) are associated with the motor 25 todetermine the period of energization of the motor during the washingoperation, and a positioning or door spotting device (not shown) may beassociated with the cylinder or drum 12 to stop the rotation of thelatter with the doors 14 in the upper front quadrant of the drum at theconclusion of the washing operation. Since the elevating arms 16 travelthrough angles of approximately 90 degrees in moving the drum 12 to thedump unloading position of the latter and the meshing of the large gear19 with the small pinion 20 can cause only a relatively small angulardisplacement of the drum with respect to the arms 16 during such angulartravel of the latter, it is apparent that the doors 14 will appear atthe lower front quadrant of the drum in the unloading position, asdesired.

In order to effect the desired movements of the drum 12 between itsposition within the casing for the washing operation and its dumpunloading position, a crank-Wheel 26 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), preferably inthe form of a gear wheel, is fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft 27 atleast at one end of the casing 11, and an elevating arm link 28 ispivotally connected, at one end, to the adjacent elevating arm 16 at alocation along the latter spaced substantially from the pivoting axis ofthe latter, as at 29, while the opposite end of the link 28 is connectedto a crank-pin 30 carried by the wheel 26 at a location spaced radiallyfrom the axis of rotation of the crank-wheel. The length of the link 28and the radial distance of the crank-pin 30 from the center of thecrank-wheel are determined so that, when the pin 30 is disposed close tothe bottom dead center position (Fig. 2), the link 28 will extenddiametrically across the crank-wheel and pull the related elevating arm16 rearwardly and downwardly to dispose the drum or cylinder 12 withinthe casing 11 and, when the crank-wheel 26 is turned through 180degrees, the link 28 will push the related elevating arm 16 upwardly andforwardly to dispose the drum 12 in the dump unloading position (Fig.3).

The crank-Wheel 26, when in the preferred illustrated form of a gearwheel, is driven by a meshing pinion 31 which may, in turn, be driven byan electric motor (not shown), or by a manually turned crank. The motorfor driving the pinion 31 may be controlled by manually actuatedswitches or by automatically actuated switches forming a part of theusual cycling controls for the washing machine so that, during a washingoperation, the crankwheel 26 is in the position of Fig. 2, and, upon theconclusion of the washing operation, the crank-Wheel is turned to theposition of Fig. 3 to position the drum 12 for the dump unloading of thewashed clothes or contents thereof.

The washing machine 10 further includes a cover 32 for the top openingof the casing 11. The cover 32 is hingedly connected to the casing 11along the upper edge of the back wall of the latter, as at 33 (Figs. 2and 3), for swinging movement between a raised, open position (Figs. 1and 3) and a lowered, closed position (Fig. 2)- It is apparent that,following the return of the drum 12 from its dump unloading position toits position within the casing 11, the cover 32 must be moved to itsclosed position to keep the water or other cleaning fluid within thecasing during a washing operation, and that, at the conclusion of awashing operation, the cover 32 must be raised to its open positionbefore the drum can be displaced out of the casing to its dump unloadingposition.

In order to effect the opening and closing movements of the cover 32 andto synchronize such movements of the drum 12 into and out of the casing11, a radial cam 34 is keyed, as at 35 (Figs. 4 and 5), or otherwisesecured to the shaft 27 for rotation with the crank-wheel 26, and acover lift link 36 is pivotally connected, at its upper end, to the sideof cover 32, as at 37, while the lower end of the link 36 carries a pin38 projecting from the opposite sides of the link 36 to slidably engagein the groove of a guide 39 and to bear downwardly on the peripheral,radially outward facing cam surface of the cam 34 and thus act as a camfollower.

As seen particularly in Fig. 5, the cam 34 is of generally heart-shapedor cordate configuration and has a major portion 40 of the edge thereofwith a uniform, relatively large radius, while the remaining symmetricalarcuate portions 41 and 42 of the edge or cam surface decrease in radiusfrom the ends of edge portion 40 to a central notch 43 which is disposeda relatively small radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cam.The cam 34 is angularly related to the crank-wheel 26, and the cam 34and link 36 are dimensioned so that, when the crank-wheel 26 is disposedto position the drum 12 within the casing 11, the follower pin 38 willengage the notch 43 of the cam to permit gravity to move the cover 32 toits closed position (Fig. 2), and so that, as the crank-wheel 26 isturned from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3, the pin 38will initially be engaged by the edge portion 41 or 42 of the cam,depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank-wheel, to move thecover 32 toward its open position more rapidly than the simultaneouslyoccurring movement of the drum 12 out of the casing and, when the pin 38is engaged by the major edge portion 40 of large radius, the cover isheld in its open position as the drum completes its movement toward thedump unloading position. Further, when the drum 12 is being returnedinto the casing 11, the pin 38 will continue to be engaged by the largeradius edge portion 40 of the cam to hold the cover 32 in its openposition during the initial portion of the return movement of the drum,and closing of the cover will occur only upon engagement of the pin 38by the edge portion 41 or 42 during the final increment of the movementof the drum to its operative position within the casing. Thus,interference between the cover 32 and drum 12 is avoided.

It is apparent that, with the structure described above, the cover 32 isheld in its closed position only by the weight thereof acting as adownward for e ab ut the axis of the hinge 33. However it has been foundthat such force,whichis yieldab'le,'is insufficient to'ensure a completeseal at the edges of the cover 32 and casing 11, particularly whenthemachine is subjected to vibration during the' washing operation, so thatsubstantial quantities of water or other cleaning fluid can leak fromthe machine between the edges of the cover and casing to create ahazardous and unsightly condition around the washing machine. Further,since the pin 38 merely rests upon the periphery of cam 34 when thecover is in its closed position, it is apparent that the cover can bemanually raised during a washing operation, that is, while the drum 12is being rotated,'to permit the escape of large quantities of water andalso to expose the person, who might have inadvertently raised thecover, to the danger of physical contact with the rotating drum.

However, in accordance with the present invention, a mechanically simplearrangement is provided for tightly holding the cover 32 in its'closedposition and for locking the cover against movementfrom' its closedposition during the positioningjpfthe drum 1 2.within'the.casing 11 forthe washing operation. In order to perform the above functions,the cam34 isprovided with a radially inward facing cam surface 45 (Fig. 5)spaced radially from the peripheral edge or'radially outward facing camsurface of the cam 34 at least at'the edge portion of the latter ofsmallest radius, thatis, at the notch or node 43,

to engage the pin 38 of the cover lift link 36 from above when the cam34 is in the rotational position corresponding to the fullyclosed'position ofthe cover 32 (Figs. 2, 4 and'5). Thus, when the coveris in its closed position, the cam surface 45 acts downwardly on the pin38 to exert a downwardpull on the link 36 tightly sealing the edgesofthe cover 32 against the edges of the casing Ill and also lockingthecover to prevent, inadvertent opening of the cover while thecarn surface45 is positioned to engage the pin 38, as during a washing operation.

Preferably, as seen in Fig, 5, the cam surface 45 has two oppositelyinclined, converging portions coming together at an apex 46 which isradially aligned with the notch 43, so that the apex 46 contacts the pin38 when the cam 34 and crank-wheel 26are in the rotational positioncorresponding to the fully closed position of the cover, and the camsurface 45 and the link 36 are arranged so that the edges of the cover32 will contact the edges of the casing 11 immediately after contact ofan inclined portion of cam surface 45 with the pin 38' and the inclinedportion of cam surface 45 will exert a downward wedging actionon the pin38 to take-up any play in the pivotal connections of the link 36 andtoincrease the effectiveness of the seal between the contacting edges ofthe cover and casing during the final increment of the angular movementof the cam 34' to'the position where the apex 46 engages the followerpin 38.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cam surface 45 isprovided on an auxiliary cam member which is generally identified by thereference numeral 47 and, includes an attachment portion 48 secured tothe cam 34 at the side ofthe latter facing away from link 36; andextending radially beyond the periphery of cam 34, and a cam portion 49at the radially outer end of portion 48 and ofiset laterally withrespect to the latter (Fig. 4) to lie in the plane of rotation of cam34, the cam surface 45 being defined by the radially inner edge of theoffset cam portion 49 (Fig. 5).

The auxiliary cam member 47 may be fixedly attached to the cam 34, as byrivets 50 passing through the latter and through the attachment portion48, or the rivets 5% may be replaced by nuts and bolts received ingenerally radially extending slots (not shown) in the cam 34 to permitradial adjustment of the cam surface 45 toward and away from the axis ofrotation of the cam 34, thereby to vary the downward clamping or wedgingaction exerted on the cover in its closedposition.

It will be apparent that, when the crank-wheel 26 and pin 38 and thelatter is thereafter acted upon by the cam 34, in the previouslydescribed manner, to cause opening of the cover 32 so that the drum canbe moved through the open top of the casing 11 to its dump un- Since theauxiliary cam member 47 is loading position. mounted directly upon thecam 34 which controls the opening and closing of the cover 32, it isobvious that the cover sealing and locking functions will beautomatically synchronized with the operation of the cam 34, and that noadditional actuating or control mechanism is required for operation ofthe auxiliary cam member.

Although the drawings show a crank-wheel 26, link 28, cam 34, link 36and auxiliary cam member 47 at only one end of the machinelO it isapparent that such structure maybe duplicated at the other end of thewashing machine, particularly when the drum 12 and cover 32 are ofconsiderable length so that actuation at only one end might give rise toexcessive torsional stresses in the cover and in the supportingstructure for the drum; I i

In order to provide an adequate seal, the front edge 55 (Fig. 8) of thelower part 11 of the shell may have aresilient gasket or seal 56 clampedthereto by a strip 57 fastened to the front edge by screws 58. The rearedge of the casing andthecover 32 may have a gasket 01' seal strip, asseen in Figs. 6 and 7, adjacent hinge pin or means 59 joining the coverand lower shell.

The side members 6 00f the cover may cooperate with seal strip 61 asseen in Figs. 10 and 11, the lower part of the side shell 11 being seenat 11a.

The trunnion at eachend of the drum may have a shaft 15 supportedin sealhousing 62 having the lifting arms 16 fastened thereto, Seal gasket orstrip 63 may have a wire'64 therein, the gasket being located in groove65' so as to properly cooperate with flanges 66 and 67 of the sides ofthe shell andcasing. The flange 68 can be suitably fastened to the drum.

Further, although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in detail herein and shown in the accompanying drawings,merely by way of example, it is to be noted that the invention is notlimited to that particular embodiment, and that various changes andmodifications may be effected in the latter without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is: v

1 In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at thetop, ahinged cover for the top of said casing movable between open and closedpositions and a work agitating drum moyable through the open top of thecasing between an operative position within the latter and a dumpunloading position projecting forwardly of the casing; the eombinationof actuating means for the drum operative to move the latter between itsoperative and dump unloading positions, cover actuating meanssynchronized with said drum actuating means and operative to move thecover to the open position of the latter during movement of the drumtoward itsdump unloading position and to permit movement of the cover toits closed position up'on movement of the drum to the operative positionof the latter, and cover locking means operated by said cover actuatingmeans to tightly hold the cover in its closed position on the casing andto prevent removal of the cover from its closed position so long as saiddrum actuating means is conditioned to hold the drum in the operativeposition of the latter.

2. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open positicn to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement throughthe open top of the casing between an operative position within thelatter and an elevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; thecombination of actuating means for the drum operative to move the latterbetween its operative and dump unloading positions, cam actuated meansoperating in synchronism with said drum actuating means to move thecover to the open position of the latter as the drum is moved toward itsdump unloading position and to permit the return movement, by gravity,of the cover to its closed position upon movement of the drum to itsoperative position, and cover locking means operated with said camactuated means to pull the cover downwardly on the casing and to therehold the cover so long as said drum actuating means is conditioned todispose the drum in the operative position of the latter within thecasing.

3. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing,

and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement through the opentop of the casing between an operative position within the latter and anelevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; the combinationof actuating means for the drum operative to move the latter between itsoperative and dump unloading positions, a radial cam rotated insynchronism with the operation of said drum actuating means, a linkpivoted at one end to the cover and having a cam follower at its otherend bearing downwardly on the periphery of said radial cam, said cambeing shaped to push said link upwardly for moving the cover to its openposition as said drum actuating means moves the drum to the dumpunloading position of the latter and to permit downward movement of saidlink under the weight of the cover for closing the latter upon movementof the drum to its operative position, and means rotating with said camand engaging said follower from above, when said cam is in a rotationalposition corresponding to the closed position of the cover, thereby topull downwardly on said link for tightly sealing the cover on the casingand for preventing movement of the cover toward its open position solong as said cam remains in said rotational position corresponding tothe closed position of the cover and the operative position of the drum.

4. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement throughthe open top of the casing between an operative position within thelatter and an elevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; thecombination of actuating means for the drum operative to move the latterbetween operative and dump unloading positions, a radial cam rotated insynchronism with the operation of said drum actuating means, a linkpivoted at one end to the cover and having a cam follower at its otherend bearing downwardly on the periphery of said radial cam, said cambeing shaped to push said link upwardly for moving the cover to its openposition as said drum actuating means moves the drum to the dumpunloading position of the latter and to permit downward movement of saidlink under the weight of the cover for closing the latter upon movementof the drum to its operative position, and means rotating with saidradial cam and defining a radially inward facing cam surface spacedradially from the periphery of said cam along at least the portion ofthe latter engaging said follower when the cover is permitted to move toits closed position so that said radially inward facing cam surface thenbears downwardly on said follower to exert a downward force tightlyseating the cover on the casing and preventing opening of the cover 50long as said cam is in a rotational position corresponding to theoperative position of the drum.

5. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement throughthe open top of the casing between an operative position within thelatter and an elevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; thecombination of actuating means for the drum operative to move the latterbetween its operative and dump unloading positions, a radial cam rotatedin synchronism with the operation of said drum actuating means, a linkpivoted at one end to the cover and having a cam follower at its otherend bearing downwardly on the periphery of said radial cam, said cambeing shaped to push said link upwardly for moving the cover to its openposition as said drum actuating means moves the drum to the dumpunloading position of the latter and to permit downward movement of saidlink under the weight of the cover for closing the latter upon movementof the drum to its operative position, and an auxiliary cam membermounted on said radial cam for rotation with the latter and defining aradially inward facing cam surface spaced radially from the periphery ofsaid cam along the portion of the latter engaging the follower when thedrum is moved to its operative position so that said radially inwardfacing cam surface then bears downwardly on said follower to exert adownward force tightly seating the cover on the casing and preventingopening of the cover so long as said cam is in the rotational positioncorresponding to the operative position of the drum.

6. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement throughthe open top of the casing between an operative position within thelatter and an elevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; thecombination of actuating means for the drum operative to move the latterbetween its operative and dump unloading positions, a radial cam rotatedin synchronism with the operation of said drum actuating means, a linkpivoted at one end to the cover and having a cam follower at its otherend bearing downwardly on the periphery of said radial cam, said cambeing shaped to push said link upwardly for moving the cover to its openposition as said drum actuating means moves the drum to the dumpunloading position of the latter and to permit downward movement of saidlink under the weight of the cover for closing the latter upon movementof the drum to its operative position, and an auxiliary cam membermounted on said radial cam for rotation with the latter and defining aradially inward facing cam surface spaced radially from the periphery ofsaid cam along the portion of the latter engaging said follower duringthe final increment of the movement of the cover toward its closedposition so that said radially inward facing cam surface then engagessaid follower from above, the distance from said radially inward facingcam surface to the axis of rotation of said cam decreasing progressivelyfrom the ends of said cam surface to the point on the latter engagingsaid follower when said cam is in a rotational position exactlycorresponding to the closed position of the cover so that, during thefinal increment of rotational movement of said cam to said position ofthe latter, said cam surface exerts an increasing downward force on saidlink to tightly seat the cover on the casing and to prevent opening ofthe cover so long as said cam is in said rotational position.

7. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum moved bodily through the open top ofthe casing between an operative position within the casing and anelevated, forwardly projecting dump unloading position; the combinationof means applying an upward force to the cover to raise the latter toits open position, in response to the movement of the drum toward itsdump unloading position, and permitting downward swinging of the hingedcover, by gravity, to its closed position upon movement of the drum toits operative position within the casing, and means applying a downwardforce to the cover when the latter is disposed in its closed positionfor tightly seating the closed cover on the top of the casing.

8. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a hinged cover for the top of the casing movable, by gravity, from araised open position to a lowered closed position on the top of thecasing, and a work agitating drum mounted for bodily movement throughthe open top of the casing between an operative position within thelatter and an elevated forwardly projecting dump unloading position; thecombination of ac tuating means for the drum operative to move thelatter between its operative and dump unloading positions, a cordateradial cam rotated in synchronism with the operation of said drumactuating means, a link pivoted at one end to the cover and having a camfollower at its other end bearing downwardly on the periphery of saidradial cam, said cordate radial cam having a major portion of itsperiphery disposed a uniform, relatively large radial distance from theaxis of rotation of the cam and the remainder of its periphery dividedinto two arcuate portions meeting at a peripheral notch and disposeddecreasing radial distances from said axis in the'directions toward saidnotch, said cam being rotationally disposed in relation to said drumactuating means so that said follower engages said notch, when the drumis in its operative position, to permit movement of the cover, bygravity, to its closed position and so that, when the drum is in itsdump unloading position, said follower engages said major portion of theperiphery of said cam at a location on the latter diametrically opposedto said notch to push said follower and link upwardly and thereby raisethe cover to its open position, and an auxiliary cam member mounted onsaid radial cam for rotation with the latter and defining a radiallyinward facing cam surface spaced radially from the periphery of saidradial cam in the region of said notch for engagement, from above,

with said follower when the latter engages in said notch, said radiallyinward facing cam surface having converging portions meeting at an apexregistering radially with said notch and decreasingly distanced from theaxis of said cam in the directions toward said apex so that, as said camturns to receive said follower in said notch, one of said convergingportions of said cam surface exerts an increasing downward force on saidfollower to tightly seat the cover on the top of the casing and toprevent opening of the casing so long as said cam is rotationallypositioned to receive said follower in said notch.

9. In a dump unloading washing machine having a casing open at the top,a cover hingedly connected to the top of the casing for swingingmovement, by gravity, from a raised open position to a lowered closedposition across the top of the casing, a work agitating drum, and meansmounting the drum for bodily movement through the open top of the casingbetween an operative position within the casing and an elevatedforwardly projecting dump unloading position; the combination of arotatable crank-wheel, an elevating link connected, at one end, to aneccentric location on said crank-wheel and, at its other end, to themounting means of the drum so that the latter is moved :between itsoperative and unloading positions in response to rotation of saidcrank-wheel, a radial cam fixed to rotate with said crank-wheel, a coverlift link pivoted, at one end to the cover, and having a cam follower atits other end bearing downwardly on the periphery of said radial cam,said cam being shaped and rotationally disposed relative to saidcrank-wheel to push said cover lift link upwardly for moving the coverto its open position as said crank-wheel moves the drum to its unloadingposition and to permit downward movement of the cover lift link underthe weight of the cover for closing the latter upon movement of the drumto its operative position, and means rotating with said cam and engagingsaid follower from above to act downwardly on the latter when saidcrank-wheel is in the rotational position corresponding to the operativeposition of the drum for then tightly seating the cover on the top ofthe casing and preventing opening of the cover so long as saidcrank-wheel is in said rotational position corresponding to theoperative position of the drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,549,027 Perry Aug. 11, 1925

